Posts by vinman

69

Why Me?

by John Aquila in

do you ever wonder why out of all the witnesses, you are the one that woke up?

i wonder many times why me.

i know many men and women that are much, much better persons than me; either they are much smarter, more humble, kinder, more successful, or just better persons all around.

John Aquila10 hours ago

Yea, I do, I really don't have any answers. Everyone here so far makes a point I can't refute. I almost have my second degree and read tons of books on different subjects and I'm still as lost as ever. So I decided to just admit I don't know and probably won't before the final breath. And I'm not really ok with it but what else can I do? Nothing but try to enjoy the last few moments of life I do have.

When I started fading, I went bazerk. I reseached everything including evolution and atheism. But after the dust settled, I realised that their are two sides to EVERY story. I went to this website: http://thewatchtowerfiles.com/mystory/

Many articles were encouraging. I came to the realisation that I feel like the author, Doug Shields. The Bible, Yahweh, Yeshua, just feel natural. I also studied many sites about the Bible itself. My favorite is this article written in prior to 1900: http://www.biblebb.com/files/ryle/inspiration.htm

I have found great comfort in this path.

41

Ganged up via Telephone

by vinman in

i've been fading for about 9 months.

the elders know exactly why.

i received a phone call a couple of days ago.

Oh. I forgot one thing. I also sent them 7 pages of Jackson's trial where he talks about disassociating and not having a police system like with 2 elders showing up. Also how he lies about how you can say you are not a Witness and not be disassociated. Blah..blah..blah

41

Ganged up via Telephone

by vinman in

i've been fading for about 9 months.

the elders know exactly why.

i received a phone call a couple of days ago.

vinman

I've been fading for about 9 months. The elders know exactly why. I received a phone call a couple of days ago. Two elders were on the line. They gave me that typical "we care" crap. I could of just said I can't talk. But, I just couldn't control myself. They started asking me if I believe this is God's organization. Do I believe we are in the last days and so on. I simply said "I know what you are up to,

This is a set up". I began to tell them about all the lies I have found in our literature concerning our history, worshipping Jesus till 1954, and so on. I kept telling them I could show them the lies on the videos and in the books. They were so unkind at that point. They said we see what you see and it doesn't bother us. I said it should. I proceeded to ask them why i was in trouble. I did not lie. I found lies. Who should be counseled? Me or the Watchtower? "And what about all that lying from the Watchtower and Geoffrey Jackson to the Royal Commission in Australia? The coverup of 1006 pedophiles. You need to watch the trial or download the transcripts. The Watchtower is embarrassing. And you know that it is a real problem when the entire world can download the entire elders book!! The Watchtower will pay for this! The UK is after them next!"

At that point they just said good bye for the most part. They knew I will not go back. Later I felt like sending a little proof. So i attached an Awake! Watching the World photo shot that stated this:

The “credibility gap” caused by theCatholic Church’s “mismanagement of the clergy sex abuse crisis” has resulted in its “largest institutional crisis in centuries, possibly in church history.”—NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER,U.S.A.

Then i attached the official 1006 pedophile list from Australia. I also sent a photo shot shot of Russell's biography and the Divine Purpose book that says they never did such a thing. I also attached Wt Charter that said they worshipped Jesus. Then I finally attached these quotes: "The Catholic Church occupies a very significant position in the world and claims to be the way of salvation for hundreds of millions of people. Any organization that assumes that position should be willing to submit to scrutiny and criticism." {AWAK Aug 22 1984 28}

"Come to Jehovah's organization for salvation" - Watchtower 1981 Nov 15 p.212

Is This Life Are There Is?" (1974) p46:

“It is obvious that the true God, who is himself ‘the God of truth’ and who hates lies, will not look with favor on persons who cling to organizations that teach falsehood. (Psalm 31:5; Proverbs 6:16-19; Revelation 21:8) And, really, would you want to be even associated with a religion that had not been honest with you?”

Who of us has not said or done something unkind and then later been confronted about it? We likely felt embarrassed or somewhat guilty. Such feelings can lead a person to deny an error or offer some “explanation” that twists the truth in order to excuse the wrong or make it appear correct. Or in an uncomfortable situation, we might be tempted to mention only selected details, editing them to color the facts. Hence, what we say might technically be true yet give a totally different impression. While this may not be flagrant lying, such as is common in the world today, is it really ‘speaking truth each one with his neighbor,’ or brother? (Ephesians 4:15, 25; 1 Timothy 4:1, 2) When a Christian phrases things in such a way that he inwardly knows is leading brothers to a wrong conclusion, to believe something that is really not true, not accurate, how do you think God feels?

- Jehovah's Day Book

Just tell me you are proud of me!

19

have you been moved by something you have read.

by Sabin in

i found this book by carmel reilly, it`s called dear god.

childrens letters to god from around the world.

i promise you that if you are having a bad day this book what ever your believes will lift your spirits.

vinman

paradisebeauty

Yes. Totally agree with your comments. For me it does two things. First, you no longer have to come up with "filler" stories. Such as why Jesus as a child could not recall previous life. Or when Satan tempted him. Satan said, if you are the son of God.... If Jesus lived previously, he could of said: Hello... Is anybody home? Don't you remember who I am? I'm Michael you idiot!" And of course, we can give other examples as well. But the big thing for me, is that ultimately all glory goes to Yahweh. And you are not worshipping Yeshua when you have a high sense of reverence for him since he is "Yahweh in the flesh" (but not in accord with Trinitarianism).

A little bit off topic, but since I left the organization, I found the World English Bible to be very comforting. It is free online or download an app. It is the American Standard Version but a little more modern and it keeps the literalness like the old NWT. But the best part is that it replaces Jehovah with Yahweh. The name Jehovah, sorry to say, brings back Watchtower talk in my head. That Bible was a dream come true.

19

have you been moved by something you have read.

by Sabin in

i found this book by carmel reilly, it`s called dear god.

childrens letters to god from around the world.

i promise you that if you are having a bad day this book what ever your believes will lift your spirits.

vinman

paradisebeauty10 minutes ago

Yes, by this book:

The Coming Kingdom of the Messiah
A Solution to the Riddle of the New Testament
by Anthony Buzzard

I just received the The One God, the Father, One Man Messiah Translation New Testament

I didn't realize that the concept of Christ not having preexistence has its roots in Judaism. I reseached this for some time and found it made so much sense.

19

have you been moved by something you have read.

by Sabin in

i found this book by carmel reilly, it`s called dear god.

childrens letters to god from around the world.

i promise you that if you are having a bad day this book what ever your believes will lift your spirits.

vinman

Rush Clockwork Angels- A concept analogy album about a person who gets sucked into organized religion. The Wreckers is about the reality of the situation. What appears to be salvation is in reality pirates. BU2B2 is when he learns TTATT. I always have The Wreckers chorus playing in my head as I pass my old KH. The last song, The Garden brings tears to your eyes.**The Wreckers LyricsThe breaker's war on an unseen shore,In the teeth of a hurricane,Oh, we struggle in vainA hellish night, a ghostly light,Appears through the driving rain,Salvation in the human chain
All I know that sometimes you have to be wary of a miracle too good to be true,All I know is that sometimes the truth is contrary of everything in life you thought you knewAll I know is that sometimes you have to be wary, because sometimes the target is you
Driven to the ground,With that awful soundDrowned by the cheer from the shore,Oh, we wonder what for
The people swarm,through the darkening storm,Gather everything they can score,Turn their backs when there's no more
All I know that sometimes you have to be wary of a miracle too good to be true,All I know is that sometimes the truth is contrary of everything in life you thought you knew,All I know that sometimes you have to be wary of a miracle too good to be true,All I know that sometimes the truth is contrary, because sometimes the target is you.
The brink of war on an unseen shore,In the teeth of an icy grave,In the teeth of an icy grave
Whoah, the human chain leaves a bloody stain,Washed away in the pounding waves,Washed away in the pounding waves
All I know is sometimes you have to be wary of a miracle too good to be true,All I know is that sometimes the truth is contrary of all the things in life you thought you knew,All I know is that sometimes you have to be wary, because sometimes the target is you.
All I know is that memory can be too much to carry,striking out like a bull from a balloon,All I know is that sometimes the truth is contrary of everything in life you thought you knew.
BU2B2 Lyrics

I was brought up to believe
Belief has failed me now
The bright glow of optimism
Abandoned me somehow

Belief has failed me now
Life goes from bad to worse
No philosophy consoles me
In a clockwork universe

Life goes from bad to worse
I still choose to live
Find a measure of love and laughter
And another measure to give

I still choose to live
And give, even while I grieve
Though the balance tilts against me
I was brought up to believe

8

Is it More Difficult for Us?

by vinman in

it seems that as ex jw's, we have a harder time with ttatt then other religions.

is that just because we claim to only use the bible unlike mormons?

is it because they like no other religion keep claiming to be jehovah's organization?

vinman

It seems that as Ex Jw's, we have a harder time with TTATT then other religions. Is that just because we claim to only use the Bible unlike Mormons? Is it because they like no other religion keep claiming to be Jehovah's Organization? Is it the secrecy of GB? What is it?

69

Why Me?

by John Aquila in

do you ever wonder why out of all the witnesses, you are the one that woke up?

i wonder many times why me.

i know many men and women that are much, much better persons than me; either they are much smarter, more humble, kinder, more successful, or just better persons all around.

vinman

I haven't been on this forum for some months now. I thought I wouldn't come back. But I must say, you have kept me updated on the latest news. And many of your topics are very interesting, like this one. What I am seeing and reading in books like Diane Wilson's book, The Awakening of a Jehovah's Witness, actually is irritating to me. Why? If you read this book, you will see clearly that she remained in the organization for years. However, it is clear that her thinking processes were always in tact. She was never really asleep. Just complaining in her head why this and that were wrong. So what I see, is what many call an awakening, is really just the courage to leave. I on the other hand was in a real coma. When you love every aspect of the organization and in addition, love the Bible, like I did, it takes a miracle to wake up. So I guess I feel one needs to differentiate awakening and just leaving. That is important to me. Because the latter are of no help to me and I have seen on Facebook that they don't have the skills to awaken others. They turn JW'S off. I would of never listened to them. What I feel wakes up someone who is truly comatose, is seeing actual lies and cover ups in the literature itself. The reason is because I feel that all on this forum who were truly asleep (unconscious that anything was wrong in organization), woke up because they were a real truth seeker. Whether that was our perception of truth in Bible or we felt truth was in agnosticism or atheism. We just want the truth. We refuse to close our eyes regardless of consequences.

36

Has This Site Ever Hurt You In Your Journey Out Of The JW Religion?

by minimus in

jw
friends

this site has gone through many metamorphosis over the years.

i believe it is a kinder, less edgy place tan it was a few years ago.

i wonder how many people were helped versus turned off by this place.

vinman

I will not be posting anymore comments starting now. This is based on my last post. I personally don't believe this is the best healing spot. At first it was good. It was nice to express yourself as to why you are leaving the Watchtower. However, I don't need other "faithful slaves" trying to teach me their dogma. I didn't come here to become an atheist or agnostic. I am not a man that had a problem going door to door if it was God's will. I didn't complain about all those meetings if it were God's house. True, I am seeing that it is not God's house. We all left for different reasons. I am not an arrogant man who left because I want to do things that we were taught not to do (like party, watch horror films, etc.) I left because I discovered that the Watchtower is not being honest about it's history and that opened up a can of worms that wouldn't stop. I wish this forum could be filtered based on age and how much we were vested. Just because you were a Bethelite, elder, pioneer, missionary,etc. does not mean you are vested with your heart. That is the real problem with the Watchtower, many of them are not. They can talk organization day and night, but they have very little to say about Jehovah or Jesus as persons. They simply are machines. I still believe many don't know what a true believer is. If you have anything that you want to say, feel free to send it to my box. But this will be my last post in this forum.

36

Calling all lovers of Jehovahs and His Christ

by vinman in

i must say that i have always loved jehovah and his son jesus christ.

i have a 12 inch diameter telescope.

i would go outside and listen to the psalms that praised to my god.

vinman

The Watchtower did not teach about why to trust Bible. Did not teach me why I need to worship Yahweh. Did not teach me the reality of Jesus,